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Carlee Alm-LaBar, left, and Josh Guillory, candidates for the Lafayette mayor-president runoff.(Photo: James Mays and Andre Broussard/Special to the Advertiser)

Lafayette mayor-president candidates Josh Guillory and Carlee Alm-LaBar may debate before the Nov. 16 election, but first they have to agree on terms.

The two candidates have been debating debates for more than a week, with Alm-LaBar complaining last week that Guillory wouldn't agree to several forums proposed and Guillory making his own proposals Monday.

Guillory suggested a set of potential debates on Facebook, including one moderated by current Mayor-President Joel Robideaux.

"I'm looking forward to debating my opponent in the final days of this election so that voters have an opportunity to see and hear the candidates before going to the polls," Guillory said in his Facebook post.

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Republican Josh Guillory reads election results Saturday that show he led a field of five candidates for Lafayette mayor-president and heads to a runoff with no-party candidate Carlee Alm-LaBar.(Photo: Andre Broussard/Special to The Advertiser)

Guillory proposed a live debate at 7 p.m. on Nov. 13 to be aired by radio station KPEL and KATC TV and moderated by KPEL's Bernadette Lee or a taped debate to be aired on KADN Channel 15 also on Nov. 13 but at 5 p.m.

Alm-LaBar said Tuesday she is considering those, and has reached out to discuss arrangements with KPEL.

Alm-LaBar said Guillory hadn't contacted her to propose the debates before sharing the proposal on Facebook, where she first saw the suggestion. She said Tuesday his method was "not a collaborative way to work."

"I think that a lot of people see this for what it is - kind of a game," Alm-LaBar said. "Eventually, we’ll be able to agree to terms, and the voters will hear their forum or debate, and that’s great. But this is also theatrics and a waste of voters’ time when we could be talking about the issues."

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Carlee Alm-Labar speaks with reporters throughout the night as Carlee Alm-Labar supporters gather for an election night watch party at Dat Dog on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019.(Photo: James Mays/Special to the Advertiser)

Guillory also suggested a debate on Robideaux's radio show on 103.7 The Game, which Alm-LaBar called "an odd proposal" because she initially launched her campaign in a bid to unseat Robideaux before he announced he wouldn't seek re-election in April.

Guillory hired Robideaux's consultant and former campaign manager Joe Castille for his campaign's social media efforts, and received a $2,500 contribution from Robideaux's former political action committee. Alm-LaBar said Robideaux "is not exactly an unbiased moderator," though she said she was willing to work with his office for a debate.

Guillory suggested the Robideaux show debate be held at 9 a.m. on either Nov. 7 or Nov. 14.

Avoiding debates isn't unusual for incumbents and election front-runners, who don't stand to gain as much from the events as their opponents. Guillory finished the primary election in a field of five candidates with 31% of the vote versus Alm-LaBar's 28%.

Guillory, who said he is still running his law practice, said his work, family and campaign obligations had him booked "every night and through the election."

"Keep in mind, unlike my opponent, I work full-time. Unlike my opponent, I raise children and work full-time in this community," Guillory said.